Police in Palmerston North have rescued an elderly farmer who was trapped in dense bush after he activated his located beacon on Tuesday night.
The 75-year-old fell while rounding up stray sheep in a steep terrain in the Pohangina Valley, north of the city.
He activated his beacon and the Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter rescued him from a creek in the bottom of the gorge.
The man was treated and was taken by helicopter to hospital.
Police say if he did not have an emergency beacon, it could have been hours before he was reported missing and he may have had to spend the night in life-threatening conditions.
